Javahttp://blogs.courant.com/java/
Java with MaryEllenenCopyright 2012Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0400http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specificationJava is Moving (The Site, Not Me!)I was told this is the way to word my relocation!!

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/java-is-moving-the-site-not-me.htmlTue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0400Do You Miss Koppy? Tune In To WFSB At 3 TodayIf you need a Ted Koppy fix, the former WTNH anchor-turned-financial guru will be a guest today (1/10) on WFSB's "Better Connecticut" with Scot Haney and Kara Sundlun.

You know the drill. New year, new resolutions, new financial plan. Koppy, if you remember, ditched tv to become a financial advisor at Waddell & Reed and will be sharing investment tips, etc. to get you jump started in 2012.

First the going. Weekend stalwart Lauren Petty, is joining WMAQ in Chicago as a general assignment reporter at the end of this month.

For Petty, it's a good move for a couple of reasons including the fact that she is "going home" to her extended family, a dream move as it were.

WVIT brass David Doebler, who, by the way was at the game in New Orleans with his family Monday, understands her decision, noting Petty will have a bright future there. Her last day at WVIT is Jan. 29 and begin her Chicago job on Jan. 30. .

Now the comings.

Lots of them at the West Hartford-based station, part of
a yet-to-be-announced initiative there apparently aimed at getting more people out to more stories in more towns.

Among those who have joined the station so far, Malini Basu, Dianna Russini, Liz Dahlem and Sabina Kuriakose, all from New York stations, Christopher Coffey from Austin and Ilana Gold from New Mexico.

Word is there soon will be more.

And over at WTNH , it's weekend love.

Weekend sports anchor John Pierson has posted on his Facebook page that he is "in a relationship"with weekend meteorologist Erica Grow.

And finally,

WTIC radio personality Joe D'Ambrosio and NBC Connecticut sports director Kevin Nathan have been again named Connecticut Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

It is the seventh time D'Ambrosio has been named, and the sixth time for Nathan.

The two will be honored at the annual NSSA Sports Weekend in Salisbury, North Carolina in June.

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/wvit-a-staffing-flurry-of-acti.htmlMon, 09 Jan 2012 14:58:03 -0400"Memphis" Opens With Fenkart In the LeadFor years, New Jersey native Bryan Fenkart played second fiddle to Chad Kimball, serving as the understudy for the lead of the Tony award-winning musical "Memphis" on Broadway. But now he's the star in the touring production of the musical that opens Tuesday at the Bushnell. Fenkart will play Huey Calhoun, the musical's lead and a character based loosely on the Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white deejays to play black music in the 50s. Fenkart, also a songwriter and singer with a new album, was on the road as Huey in Philadelphia when he Spilled the Beans with Java.

Q: Here you are, no longer the understudy but the real Huey Calhoun. How does that feel?

A: It feels good. Like sort of a natural progression. I understudied for the part for two years on Broadway. I was lucky because I went on 200 times. But it's like borrowing your dad's car and then having your own. As an understudy you have to keep the character as close as possible to the way the star play it. Now I get to add my own character to the role.

Q: So what are you doing differently?

A: I keep a lot of what Chad did in terms of the character's voice. But I changed the physicality and downplayed some of the vocal and physical ticks Huey had when Chad was in the role. They wouldn't have worked for me. I am taking a more organic approach to the character. I want Huey to be a little more down to earth,

Q: You are what, 31, 32, so you have only been able to read about racial tension in the 50s and early 60s. How did you relate to the character and the times?

A: Yeah, I'm 32. As far as the music I listened to a lot of old Dewey Phillips recordings. I didn't know who he was until I started the show. I listened to a lot of his recordings to get a feel for his manic motor mouth. He would make up words on the air. He wouldn't read the commercial copy. Instead he would make up his own.

As far as political issue, I know enough about the times. But he didn't think about those things. He wasn't trying to change the world. He was just trying to get the music he loved out there and heard and he wants to get the girl. He doesn't look at the larger, social-political picture.

Q: How did being an understudy on Broadway help you with this role? And how are you handling it all, you are in nearly every scene.

A: I am so familiar with the show so I didn't have to spend a lot of time learning the lines. In some ways, though it is a little bit harder as part of the touring company because the staging changes from theater to theater. If is incredibly difficult to be in so much of the play but absolutely good because if I can do this part, I can do anything. It's a great way to get shot out of the cannon. And the character is so diverse. He has an accent, a drinking problem. It's a dream role because you have to play so many elements of the character.

Q: So once the tour is done, what's next?

A: My year in this role ends in October. I have my own music career and just released an album, "Simple and Grey." It comes out the 17th. I have been songwriter for years. I play piano and guitar but I consider myself more a music writer than a singer. This is my second album but I consider it my first. There was a lot of trial and error on my first one, "Imperfect Man." I grew up a lot by the time I cut the second one. There is only one love song on the album, I am not one who likes to flog myself or be a "woe is me" guy.

Q: Are you dating?

A: No, I am hitting the road as a single guy. I was dating someone in New York City but because of the tour and something else, it is not possible anymore.

Q: What do you think the message of the show is?

A: I think obviously equality, the power of music, that music can bring people together, despite if people are black or white or gay or straight or Christian or not Christian.

Q: Have you ever been to Connecticut before?

A: Once I was here with my band and we played at a place called The Warehouse in New Haven.

Q: Something no one knows about you?

A: I am excited to be coming to Connecticut because it is the home of WWE Titan Tower. I am such a professional wrestling fan. CM Punk is my favorite. It's my guilty pleasure.

"Memphis" will be at the Bushnell through Jan. 15. Tickets range from $17 to $72. Go to bushnell.org for information.

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/memphis-opens-with-fenkart-in.htmlMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:46:54 -0400CT TV Fav, Gayle King Ready For Her CBS DebutFormer WFSB anchor Gayle King strides into her sparse, temporary New York City office at CBS in four-inch matte silver stilettos and a form fitting royal blue dress. She simultaneously apologizes for a scheduling snafu, replaces irritating contacts with eyeglasses and pulls a Jenny Craig lunch out of a small fridge. She's been on the go since 3:30 a.m. but plops down on a sofa for yet another interview just days before she takes a giant career step to co-anchor on the network's revamped morning show, "CBS This Morning."

"I am nervous, pressured, exhilarated, thrilled and very humbled," said King, flashing her "I'm so glad to see you" smile. "It is a very different kind of morning news show and from the moment you see the way it opens Monday, you will be hooked and intrigued."

Those are the hopes of CBS executives who are pulling out all the stops hoping to boost the basement ratings of the embattled morning show, with King as one of the trump cards.

King, one of Connecticut's most popular newscasters during her nearly 20-year stint at WFSB, is teaming up with PBS show host and journalist Charlie Rose to do the heavy lifting as the network ditches its former "The Early Show" format starting Monday. The two, along with veteran show host Clinton native Erica Hill, have a new set, new chemistry and a new, more news-oriented format -- a combination network executives hope is the magic formula when it comes to enticing viewers to tune in 7 to 9 a.m. weekday mornings.

"The thing is CBS hasn't been number one in that time slot since 'Captain Kangaroo,'" says

King. "We are all very mindful of that and I feel tremendous pressure because there is a lot at stake here," added the self-proclaimed news junkie. "We all want to be part of turning the train around."

Known for her personable style, unpretentious delivery, her fine-tuned interviewing ability, and her close friendship with Oprah Winfrey, King, who will continue to be the editor-at-large of "O, The Oprah Magazine," will anchor the 8 a.m. hour. She will make appearances earlier in the show, anchored by Hill and Rose. The show is being billed as one that will "redefine the landscape of morning television."

"It is a big opportunity," said King, who had her own Hartford-based talk show that folded after one year in the late 1990s. "I think we have an amazing team and this is a tremendous opportunity for all of us," she continued, emphasizing the cooperative effort into making the show a success. "We all feel it and we all want it to work. There is a new energy and people have noticed it. I'm telling you it's different this time."

Life After WFSB

When King left WFSB in 1999, life was more than good as she took on the magazine duties, and added her own radio show on Sirius' Oprah Network. Then came "The Gayle King Show" on Winfrey's OWN network. Her two grown children, daughter Kirby and son Will, were establishing their own lives, and King, who has been divorced for many years, was in a groove.

"I wasn't looking for this, it just came out of the blue," she explains. King occasionally appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" news show, which coincidently is co-hosted by her former WFSB colleague Mika Brzezinski. King's on-air demeanor caught the eye of network bosses, and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I wasn't unhappy and I wasn't looking," said King about her decision to leave her shows on her best friend's radio and TV networks. "This opportunity presented itself and I said like 'wow'."

Confronting Rumors

So what about those tabloid stories that suggest she got her new job on CBS because of her close relationship with the powerful Oprah?

"CBS is not giving out jobs because you are a person's friend," said King. "It doesn't work that way."

Rattling off her years of very successful TV experiences in Kansas and Connecticut, King

notes her three Emmys and her work ethic as still more proof of her stand-on-my-own success.

"I am not underestimating the power of Oprah's friendship but I have worked a very long time and this isn't my first rodeo," she says dead seriously. "I have earned this."

How about the rumor that her decision to go to CBS has caused a rift with her longtime pal?

"Oprah was so encouraging and so supportive," said King. "When the offer was made I talked to my daughter and son because they're my posse," said King. "My daughter, my favorite daughter Kirby," said "'You are working harder now, you're supposed to be slowing down'," recalled King, who recently turned 57. "That would be one way to do it," King said she replied to her daughter, "But who wants to slow down."

While the whole premiere from set to segments were still a secret days before the debut, there are some aspects, like her wardrobe, that are not.

"What I'm wearing is not a secret," grins King, whose permanent residence is now New York City. "I'm telling everybody, my favorite color is yellow so I am sure I will be wearing yellow. I have a couple of outfits picked out."

Her son, who is in China, is delaying his departure from that country a day so he can tune into the show from there. And Oprah?

"Oprah was supposed to leave for South Africa Sunday for the Jan. 14 graduation ceremonies for her girls school first graduating class," said King, referring to Winfrey's Leadership Academy For Girls that opened in 2007. "She is supposed to delay that a day so she can watch the show, too.''

And what does King want to say to her fans in Connecticut?

"I would greatly appreciate it if they tuned in," said King, who still instructs her staff to pay special attention to calls from Connecticut area codes and still carries her Connecticut driver's license in her bag. "I feel very connected to Connecticut, it's where I got married, had my children, got divorced and will always have an attachment there," she said. "I grew up in Connecticut."

Reflecting on her life as she prepares for what she calls a life-changing opportunity, King said she is still amazed at her life so far.

"I just say sometimes, boy, what a life I'm having, boy, what a life I'm having," she repeated. "I don't take this for granted," she emphasized again. "This chance is a win, lose or draw," she said. "I plan to win."

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/ct-tv-fav-gayle-king-ready-for.htmlSun, 08 Jan 2012 07:29:41 -0400Hartford Inaugural Ball Tickets Now On SaleReady for the first ball of 2012?

Tickets are now on sale for Mayor Pedro Segarra's Inaugural Ball on Jan. 21 at the Connecticut Convention Center. Proceeds will benefit his new Hartford Humanities Fund, headed up by Hartford attonrey Steve Bonafonte.

Here's the scoop:

"The Inaugural Ball will be a festive, black-tie optional event featuring local entertainment, dinner and dancing. Hartford's city leadership and many of the state's dignitaries will be in attendance. The event is open to the public and 850 attendees are expected. The ticket price will be $100 per individual. Named sponsor tables of ten seats are available for $2,000.

The Hartford Humanities Fund was recently established by Mayor Segarra to financially support the growth of charitable organizations in Hartford. The Hartford Humanities Fund will provide grants to select non-profits that strengthen the fabric of the community through either healthcare, education, arts or youth services. Hartford lawyer, Steve Bonafonte, who has sat on numerous boards and commissions in Hartford, has been chosen to head up the Humanities Fund.

"I want to thank our corporate community for their continued generosity and allowing us to host a Ball that will celebrate a change in leadership in Hartford and our diverse neighborhoods and culture. I also want to express my appreciation to Steve Bonafonte for agreeing to lead the Hartford Humanities Fund and his civic dedication to Connecticut's Capital City," said Mayor Segarra.

And one last note...word is WFSB couple Dennis House and Kara Sundlun will be sharing emcee duties for the night.

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/hartford-inaugural-ball-ticket-1.htmlWed, 04 Jan 2012 21:03:17 -0400Emeril Comes To ESPNHe's BAM!, the celebrity chef everyone loves. Emeril Lagasse. And on Wednesday, the good-natured king of the "Emeril Empire" graced the sets and the kitchen at Bristol-based ESPN. The prestigious chef turned author, restaurateur and Food Network star was in town to promote the two-week 2012 Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash. The promotion, presented by BP in New Orleans, is being held in conjunction with a lot of New Orleans football including the Sugar Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Champions game. Lagasse, who lives in New York, New Orleans and Destin, Fla. and has a host of famed restaurants including his landmark Emeril's in New Orleans, talked up the Gulf, its clean-up and the fine seafood there, while dishing sports talk and gumbo during his daylong stint at the sports mecca. When the day was done, he had some final thoughts as he Spilled the Beans with Java.

Q: Are you here to celebrate college football, New Orleans, food, or the fact that the Gulf coast is alive and well again?

A: It's all of those things. I am spreading the word that the Gulf Coast is back. The efforts since the spill have been remarkable. It is amazing what has happened and the quality of the Gulf seafood, from Alabama and Mississippi to Florida and Louisiana is the best. I happen to be a big fisherman and I was on the water last week. My involvement with this promotion from the tourism perspective, I have been down there for 30 years and am blessed and proud of it. I want to say to people, hey, look, come on down here.

Q: How was the food at the ESPN cafeteria?

A: I didn't get a chance to eat here but I did bring some of my seafood gumbo with me. I'm
sure the food here is very good.

Q: If you could only eat one thing the rest of your life what would it be?

A: Speckled trout

Q: Food trends are cyclical. What is rolling for 2012, food-wise?

A: I think we are going to see more as far as farm-to-fork , a farm-to-table movement that I wouldn't call a trend. I think a lot more people are still getting involved in it. I think we will keep adding to the new restaurant base and not just in big cities. I think we will continue to see these little ethnic pockets of popular food, Spanish, a little more Portuguese, and foods from some other cultures like South Africa and Columbia. You will also see a continued trend of people eating healthier and eating smaller portions.

Q: Speaking of eating better, any new year's resolutions for you?

A: I always make new year's resolutions and never keep them. Mine for this year, life is too short to drink bad wine.

Q: I'm going to name the teams that were in the Sugar Bowl and upcoming Allstate Championship . Tell me what food comes to mind.

Q: Michigan:

A: Bratwurst

Q: Virginia Tech

A: Low Country

Q: LSU

A: Cajun, Cajun and more Cajun

Q: Alabama

A: Oysters

Q: And I have to add a fifth since you are after all, from Fall River, Mass. Patriots?

A: Well, it's not the season for it but a seafood bake. I'll stick with that.

Q: Who would play you in the made-for-tv movie "Emeril Lagasse: The Life and the Legend?"

A: John Goodman

Q: Finish this sentence. I am most proud of ___

A: My family.

Q: Something no one knows about you?

A: I am a crazy fisherman.

Q: A lot of people don't realize you are an accomplished musician. Doing any drumming these days?

A: I kind of do but it's difficult to do it with so much going on. But my children are all musicians.

Q: Is coming to ESPN like visiting the gourmet kitchen of sports?

A: I am a huge sports fan. My son is mad at me because he couldn't come. And I didn't take any pictures because I don't own a camera. That's another thing no one knows about me.

(Photo Credit: Joe Faraoni/ESPN)

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/emeril-comes-to-espn.htmlWed, 04 Jan 2012 20:43:48 -0400BGCA Prez Stops By HartfordJim Clark, the new president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America made a stop in Hartford Monday
where he was welcomed by club members, staff and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Pictured are Clark, left with Sam Gray, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford Sam Gray. Besides the meet-and-greet, Clark was interviewed for the BGCA MyClubMyLife website by Hartford club member Damien Gunn, pictured left with Clark and Martha Olang, who emceed the press conference that took place at the organization's Asylum Hill branch.]]>http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/bgca-prez-stops-by-hartford.html
http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/bgca-prez-stops-by-hartford.htmlTue, 03 Jan 2012 16:01:56 -0400It's Girl Scout Cookie Time AgainDreaming of Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Dulce De Leche, and Thank U Berry Munch ?

As a former Brownie who spent more than her share of time going door-to-door in the old days to peddle cookies, here's a temptation for all of you who have resolved to eat better in in 2012 as well as those of you who are positive that Thin Mints from a refrigerator freezer are still to die for.

What can a cookie do? More than you see! The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a fun, hands-on way for girls to gain five important skills that they can apply in their everyday life.

Girls learn about goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Over the course of a Girl Scout's life, she'll apply these skills in her day-to day activities, helping to make the world a better place.

The proceeds from Girl Scouts of Connecticut's cookie program stay in Connecticut and directly benefit all of the Girl Scouts in Connecticut, including the Girl Scout troop or group from which the cookies were purchased. Girl Scout supporters who purchase a box of cookies are investing in girl-led and girl-centered programming that helps girls discover their personal best; connect with others to build healthy relationships; and take action in their communities to make the world a better place. They are investing in a future generation of strong, confident women who can change the world!

The popular Cookies for Heroes program is back this year. Last year, over 120,000 boxes were sent to our service women and men, and this year the goal is even higher! The Cookies for Heroes service project allows customers to purchase Girl Scout Cookies from their local Girl Scout, and Girl Scouts of Connecticut, along with community partners, will deliver the cookies to service women and men overseas and at home.

A new flavor is being introduced this year called Savannah Smiles, bite-sized lemon-wedge cookies dusted in powdered sugar and bursting with zesty lemon flavor. These cookies celebrate the birthplace of part of the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout cookie fans who don't know a Girl Scout can log onto www.gsofct.organd click on the cookie picture to connect with Girl Scouts participating in the cookie program in their town."

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2012/01/-dreaming-of-thin-mints.htmlTue, 03 Jan 2012 14:55:47 -0400Java Remembers 2011When it came to significant people, places and events, Java had plenty to choose from and write about during 2011. Among those we won't forget...

Events:

-Gov. Dannel Malloy's Inaugural Ball held this year at the Connecticut Convention Center. The pull-all-the-stops-out black tie event for the new Democratic governor, organized by the First Company Governor's Foot Guard, was the highlight of an Inauguration Day that included a flurry of happy legislative breakfasts, a private lunch with outgoing Republican Governor Jodi Rell, and Java's near arrest at the private fundraiser at the Old State House.

-Mark Twain House and Museum's A-list of events and people including authors David Baldacci, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult at Yale,Academy Award-winning documentarian Michael Moore at UConn, married actors Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker andlegendary newscaster
Ted Koppel in Hartford.

-Mohegan Sun celebrated its 15th anniversary with a salute to tv show host Regis Philbin and a headline-making concert featuring Jennifer Lopez. A who's who of celebs including Kelly Bensimon, Terrence Howard, Beyonce, DJ Kiss, Lea Michele,Maria Menounos and Jesse Metcalfe provided star power at the celebratory parties that were part of the weeken
d bash.

-Hartford Stage not only put its best foot forward when it came to who was on stage, but who was in the audience as well. Among the stars that came to Hartford to the theater were journalist Leslie Stahl and author/journalist Tom Wolfe at a production of "Rivalry."

-Not to be outdone, the Goodspeed in East Haddam saluted Thomas Meehan, Charles
Strouse and Martin Charnin, the creators of the musical "Annie" at its annual gala and pulled out the big guns when it came to star power. Sarah Jessica Parker, who once played Annie on, charmed everyone at the gala with a guest list that included costume designer William Ivey Long and actor John Schuck.

People:

More specifically, power couples.

Gov. Dannel Malloy is a sure choice because well, after all, he is the governor. But his power status was upped a notch when his wife, Cathy Malloy, was tapped to be the new CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra proved himself as a city leader, but when paired with his spouse, Charlie Ortiz, the two epitomize a savvy, sophisticated, poised example of what a power couple can be.

Then there was the mother/son team of David and Loretta Dyson. These two were the
shining example of why two are better than one. Their tireless efforts on behalf of Tabor House, including that annual mega-tag sale, not only benefitted the non-profit providing AIDS/HIV services, but netted the two an armload of awards that also meant more funds for their favorite charity.

Also on the people front, some of the city's most well-known and powerful people moved on. They included Michael Wilson from Hartford Stage, Edward Cumming from Hartford Symphony and Kate Bolduc from the Greater Hartford Arts Council. But new faces arrived including Darko Tresnjak, named to Wilson's spot and Carolyn Kwan at the HSO.

On the radio, it was goodbye to WWYZ'sJim Bosh and a desk job at WCCC for on-air personality Mike Picozzi. WDRC's Brad Davis decided to share the mic for an hour each morning, and with fellow radio show host Mary Jones launched a new morning show "Leather and Lace."

Restaurants:

There are some that are near and dear and so these "celebrity" spots also made news this year.

There were two nostalgia-filled closings that affected generations of families who shared fine food and greater memories at both places. The Silo, owned for the past 50 years by the Santorso family in Farmington closed just a week ago. The Route 10 landmark is scheduled to be torn down and replaced with a drugstore chain. Earlier in the year, Marinelli's Supper Club, the lakeside go-to spot for parties, celebrations and special events was closed by the Marinelli family. The acreage is expected to be developed.

The closings were offset by new places, including the most talked about, the reopening of the iconic Russian Lady in Hartford. Downtown businessman Jerry Fornarelli and partners reopened the bar/lounge/restaurant that was the place to see and be seen in the 80s. Fornarelli and company restored antiques that were part of the signature décor and on its
menu, included its famous Long Island Tea.

Around the corner on Asylum St, the former Mayor Mike's, the city's premiere watering hole when it was owned and operated by late Hartford mayor, Mike Peters, reopened as "Burger Baby." The restaurant, owned by Hartford businessman David Squillante with management help from well-known restaurateur Mike Moreau, is one of several "burger" places that opened up around the state this year by celebrity chefs including Carole Peck and Frank Lepri.

It was a mix of sad and happy for Paul Lewis's Szechuan Tokyo. The restaurant/jazz destination closed to make way for a bank, but Lewis and his love of music were not to be stifled. He has opened his dream restaurant/music venue, Arena Patio Restaurant, on Wethersfield Avenue..

And then there were the restaurants that became tv stars.

Pastori's in Ellington was literally in the spotlight when celebrity chef Robert Irvine and his
Food Network show "Restaurant:Impossible" stormed into Connecticut to give the ailing family eatery a makeover. A standing-room-only crowd watched the day-by-day transformation and celebrated when they were all filmed as part of the grand reopening.

Celebrities:

There were lots of them in and around the Hartford area in 2011. Sigourney Weaver was the special guest at a CPTV fundraiser at the palacial home of Arnold and Sandy Chase, while stars including Dana Carvey and Cathy Rigby met backstage with fans at the Bushnell. ESPN hosted hundreds of athletes at its Bristol headquarters but also featured guests like the Muppets, Larry the Cable Guy and Sean Astin.

In tv world, we had lots of comings and goings and then just some changes as local media celebs jumped from one station to another. Among then, meteorologist Geoff Fox moved from WTNH Channel 8 to FoxCt, former WFSB'er Don Lark returned to tv, landing at WTNH Channel 8. The state's most beloved meteorologist, WTNH's Dr. Mel Goldstein retired, but not before the really crazy weather ended. WFSB weather guy Curtis Grevenitz headed west and his replacement, Mike
Cameron, came back home to Connecticut as his successor.

And while she may not have worked here in several years, Connecticut fans still consider former WFSB anchor Gayle King their own and are celebrating her success. On Jan. 9, King, with Charlie Rose, will be co-anchoring a new and redesigned "The Early Show."

Everyday Connecticut people were on the screen and in the news. Among them, former Plainville resident Jack Terry was named Tommy Bahama's national "Rumologist," Rose and Wayne Courtemanche of Glastonbury let the world watch as they received a "couples makeover" on "The Rachel Ray Show." Glastonbury resident Amanda Garfinkel cooked with Martha Stewart on "The Martha Stewart Show," scheduled to air on Jan. 12. Mark Saisslein of Avon won a national makeover for MAC cosmetics and WTNH personality Teresa LaBarbera was tapped as one of the nation's hottest tv reporters by the online site, Jalopnik.

Cities were in the news too. USA Today named Hartford one of the best cities in America when it comes to playgrounds and Danbury won national acclaim as one of the 10 most artistic cities in America.

Not too bad a year. Happy New Year everyone. Hope 2012 brings many good things to all of us.

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2011/12/java-remembers-2011.htmlThu, 29 Dec 2011 13:14:19 -0400CT Mag's "Best Restaurants" List OutSo where do people like to eat in Connecticut? Lots of places, according to Connecticut Magazine's newly released "Readers' Choice: Best Restaurants 2012" list .

Among the Hartford-area eateries that won in their categories and in some cases, also named best in state:

Best Overall Excellence, Bricco Trattoria in Glastonbury

Best New Restaurant, Mainely Seafood in Southington

Best American, Max Downtown in Hartford and statewide runner-up

Best French, Cavey's in Manchester

Best Italian, Carbone's, Hartford, also the statewide winner in that category

Best Asian, Feng in Hartford, also the statewide winner in that category

Best Mexican/Latin American Besito, West Hartford, also a statewide winner

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http://blogs.courant.com/java/2011/12/ct-mags-best-restaurants-list.htmlWed, 28 Dec 2011 13:35:24 -0400Bracewell & Giuliani Party Benefits Area Non-Profits Bracewell & Giuliani LLP's Hartford office was in the spirit of giving when it came time for the annual Christmas office party recently. The firm held its fifth annual holiday Breakfast for Community Awareness at the Hartford Club, a get-together that connected business leaders with local nonprofits in need of support. Guests were asked to bring items needed by one or two of the featured charities, including ice skates for the Winterfest Skating Rink in Harford. Nonprofits at the event this year besides the skating rink, represented by Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, were Families in Crisis, Grace Academy, Journey Home and Malta House of Care. Pictured are Segarra, left, with Bracewell & Giuliani's Evan Flaschen.]]>http://blogs.courant.com/java/2011/12/bracewell-giulinai-party-benef.html
http://blogs.courant.com/java/2011/12/bracewell-giulinai-party-benef.htmlWed, 28 Dec 2011 11:19:39 -0400Cigna/CT Whale Launches Youth Hockey ProgramSeems that whole rink thing is getting to Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra. Earlier this week he took the hockey floor as part of a new Cigna/Connecticut Whale "Hockey in The Streets" collaborative designed to bring hockey to the streets of Hartford and area towns for boys and girls ages 6 to 12 years.

Mayor Pedro Segarra, seen in action here, took on Cigna executive vice president and chief information officer and program sponsor, Mark Boxer, YMCA of Greater Hartford COO Jim Scherer, Connecticut Whale Coach Ken Gernander, local media and of course, mascot Pucky, in a winner-take-all charity shoot-out street hockey game at Hartford's Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center. Long story short, the mayor won, and the Connecticut Whale donated $100 worth of turkeys on his behalf to Foodshare of Greater Hartford.

Former Ashford resident and tv meteorologist Mike Cameron is coming home to Connecticut. Actually he kind of already has. You might have caught a glimpse of him on WFSB, his new station, over the weekend. But it's not official until Jan. 7.

Cameron did some double duty over the weekend between the Connecticut station and his WNEM, a CBS-affiliated television station for the Flint/Tri-Cities market in Michigan, where he currently works, over the Christmas weekend.

"I was the only weatherman at WNEM that was not off for theholiday so they needed me there," explained Cameron. And apparently it was the same at WFSB. So a couple of quick plane trips allowed him to do the dual duty.

The Lyndon State and Cornell graduate said he is a weather geek who can't wait to get here.

"I feel like I missed the best year," he joked, referring to the bizarre weather in New England that included a freak October snow storm, tornados, a hurricane-turned-tropical storm and record heat.

And in case you are worried he won't know anyone when he does move back here permanently?

"I have a sister who lives in Willimantic with her family and my father is in Connecticut often," said Cameron. And then of course there are those old WFSB connections.

"I interned for Hilton Kaderli," he said referring one of the station's most popular weathermen-turned-ad-man. "And for Bruce DePrest too," Cameron added, referring to the WFSB chief meteorologist. "I used to watch WFSB weather growing up and to come back and work at that station, it's every weather geek's dream."

Cameron will be doing the morning and evening weekend weather and some other duties at the station.

"It's a bigger market and a wonderful opportunity," said Cameron. "I am looking forward to it all.